Retail display company sharing their thoughts, advice, photos, and promotions.

Month: January 2017

During a time in which traditional retailers have expanded their online presence, there is a current trend in e-commerce startups opening up retail locations. As stated by Neil Blumenthal, CEO of Warby Parker, “I don’t think retail is dead, mediocre retail experience is what’s dead”. Warby Parker is an online startup that allows customers to select 5 styles of eyeglasses online and have them shipped to their homes to test out for free. Shortly after the announcement from Macy’s on the closing of 68 retail locations, Warby Parker announces that it will open up 25 locations in 2017.

The idea behind e-commerce startups going physical shows a need for a modified customer experience. This need can be responsible for the decline and closings of traditional brick and mortar retail stores. With an increase in innovative technology there is strong emphasis on experiences in product displays, with personal styling options, food, drinks, and salon services. Customers are becoming weary of the traditional, try-on, touch and feel, experience of retail. An innovative and more entertaining experience should be implemented.

Popular online retailers such as Amazon and Alibaba have caught on to the trend and opened physical locations. Amazon Go store located in Seattle allows shoppers to enter, grab items, and leave without entering any check out lines. Another example is Harry’s Razor and Co., and online razor company that opened Harry’s Corner Barbershop in Manhattan in October of 2013. The neighborhood barbershop offers haircuts and shaves along with Harry’s products.

The advanced use of technology is what excites customers today. That along with the need for a new, entertaining, and fun shopping experience is what will determine the longevity of your retail location. In the near future we will see increase in traditional retail locations either closing or making the change to a more experiential shopping experience for customers.

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In a time where the in store shopping experience may seem to be on a decline, there is a new trend emerging in brick and mortar retail stores. Retailers are now embracing technology in the face of being challenged by its online rivals. The goal is to get shoppers out of the habit of online shopping and back in the store, but this time with a more advanced technology based experience. These “smart stores” will feature trendy ways to make the most of your shopping experience. From interactive mirrors, robots, and smart shelves, to much more user friendly self-checkout methods.

Robots that interact with shoppers are one feature that will be seen trending in 2017. The multilingual robots will assist shoppers by greeting them at entry, guiding them to specific products, and suggesting outfit ideas at clothing retail stores. Also in clothing retail stores, smart mirrors are being tested at high end locations. These technology based mirrors range in features. Some offer 360 views of an outfit, shoppers can compare outfits side by side, and also have the capability to capture photos and share them online with friends. Smart shelves have emerged already in stores such as Amazon Go in Seattle. They feature digital price tags and information about the products and monitors when items are picked up and removed from the shelves. The shopper’s Amazon account gets charged automatically when you leave the store, making way for shoppers to avoid check out lanes. The desire to avoid check out lanes has long been fulfilled as many stores have already featured self check out kiosks. A more advanced trend in self check out is emerging with scan and go apps. The scan and go apps allow shoppers to scan the items with their mobile device and simply scan your device to purchase the items during checkout.

These innovative stores are sure ways to create a convenient, interactive, and entertaining shopping experience for customers.Though a few trends have failed when users found them to not be so user friendly. Wal-Mart’s scan and go app project was scrapped after shoppers found it too difficult to use. One thing all retailers must consider is to be sure that the technology they are incorporating are as user friendly as their customer’s mobile device or at home computers.

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Tomorrow, we are inaugurating President Elect Trump as 45th President of the United States celebration.

For a couple of hundred years now, we have been peacefully turning over the power of our executive branch with a simple ceremony. One man puts his hand on a bible and pledges to uphold the constitution of the United States. Regardless of any significant differences the voters may have, this transition of power has always been peaceful as well as graceful.

While some people may be unhappy with the election, we must keep in mind that as Americans, we all share a common interest in supporting our Government.

Remember that the inaugural celebration is not about the candidate, but for the office of President and Vice president of the United States. It’s a process that we as citizens have always respected, so let’s take pride in this uniquely American process.

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Today is MLK Day, an american federal holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. MLK Day has become one of the nations largest days of service. King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. Along with his stance as a civil rights activist, he is well known for being a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and his memorable “I Have A Dream” speech given at the Washington monument in 1963.

Today Sharn honors and recognizes Martin Luther King Jr.’s achievements. How do you plan on contributing on this National Day of Service. Comment below!